Method of manufacturing cigarettes



N. M. HOPKINS 1,796,522

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CIGARE'IES 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 1'?, 1'931 Filed March 14. 1925 INVENTOR.

March .l 7, 1931 N.l M. HOPKINS METHOD OF' MANUFACTURING CIGARETTES 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed; March 14 /gy /32 sfr/30 /Z' rINVEN TOR.

Illini-lll rfianfed Mar. 11,1931 1,796,522

UNITED STATES PATENT crema Navia MONROE norzrrns, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD or manuracfrunme ereaanrrns Application and Maman, 1925. serial No. 15,588.

This invention relates to novel methods of dotted line E. F., and Figure 6 is another making cigarettes, and particularly to imtransverse section through this cigarette improvements in methods of producing a mediately above, along the dotted line G. H. cigarette which yields smoke of uniform Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through quality throughout itscombustion due to this cigarette showing a prolongation of the 55 the distribution in the tobacco of the nicocompound filler, and Figure 8 is an end tine and other volatiles. It is a scientific View of the end of this cigarette, as indicated fact that an ordinary cigarette made up of by the dott-ed line I. J., and Figure 9 is ani, all of one kind of tobacco, grows stronger other transverse section through this oiga-- 1o as it is smoked, because the tobacco lying rette immediately above, along the dotted 60 between the burning end and the lips of the line K. L., and Figure 10 another trans smoker in the cigarette is successively augverse section through this cigarette immented in strength as the cigarette is intcrmediately above, along the .dotted line M. N., mittently puffed or drawn upon by and Figure 11 is still another. transverse 15 the smoker due to the condensation of ,section through this cigarette immediately 65 volatiles from the portion of the cigarette in above, along the dotted line O P.. Figure the fire zone, and it is an object of my in- 12 is a longitudinal viewthrough this cigavention to provide a method to so construct rette, showing it turned through an angle a cigarette as to eliminate, or to reduce as of 90 degrees from the longitudinal section much as possiloleA this increase instrength shown in Figure 7, and Figure 13 is another 70 due to condensed volatiles as the cigarette is end view of this cigarette above, along the smoked. l dotted line Q. R., and Figure 111- is another In a 'co-pending application, Serial transverse section through this' cigarette ,fi-756,732, filed December 18, 1924, method above, along the dotted line S. T., and Figure of improving cigarettes, cigars and pipe 15 is still another transverse section through 75 cartridges, and in a co-pending application, this cigarette above, along the dotted line Serial #756,733, filed December 18, 1924, U. V., and Figure 16 is still another transcigarettes, cigars or pipe cartridges, and verse section through this cigarette along in a co-pending application, Serial #1,192, the dotted line W. X. On the second sheet (series of 1925) filed January 8, 1925, of drawings, Figure 17 is atop View looking so machines for treating cigarettes, cigars and down on a band of cigarette paper containpipecartridges, and in a patent applicaing a spread or layer of tobacco. Figure 18 tion liled simultaneously with the present is another top view looking down on a band application of even date, improvements in of cigarette paper with a` layer or spread cigars, Ser. N o. 15,589, I discuss at length of tobacco with certain portions of the to- 85 the theory, together with the chemistry upon bacco removed and with a substitution of one which my novel principles depend. kindof tobacco for another thereon. Figure Referring 'lo the accompanying drawing, 19 is a perspective view of the small wedgeformingapart of this specification, in which shaped mass of tobacco. Figure 2O is a 40 like numerals designate like parts in all the form or cutting-out device for forming 93 views, Figure 1 is an elevational View of wedge-shaped masses of tobacco from a one of myrcigarettes. Figure 2 is a longilayer of tobacco or for depositing wedgetudinal section through this cigarette. shaped masses of tobacco upon the cigarette Figure 3 is an end view of the left hand end paper band or upon the spread or layer of of the cigarette as indicated by the dotted tobacco. Figure 21 is likewise a form for 95 line A. B. Figure 11 is a transverse section cutting out or depositing a like wedgethrough this cigarette at a point immediately shaped mass of tobacco, or tobacco in loose above. alonglhe dotted line C. D. Figure 5 form, or a finer cut or powdered form. is another transverse section through this Figure 22 is an end view of the paper band cigarette immediately above, along the containing a layer or spread of tobacco in section. Figure 23 is also an end view of the band of cigarette paper showing tobacco in section but in the initial stage of being rolled. Figure 24 is a like end view a little further rolled up and Fi re 25 is still another end view still furt er rolled up and Figure 26 is still another end view further rolled and Fi ure 27 is still another end marked upon the cigarette paper, as indicators of its interior construction. 32 designates the exposed end of that portion of the filler made of mild tobacco, and 33 is the exposed end of the portion of stronger tobacco. With further reference'to Figure 2, the mild tobacco is again shown at 32 and the stronger tobacco at 33 in the wedge sha ed or tapering mass, `extended about hal. way throughout the length of the cigarette. W'ith further reference to Figure 3, the stronger tobacco is shown in its bent or cuved shape at 33, surrounded by a milder tobacco 32.

It will be seen on reference to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, that the stronger tobacco is in the form of a part of a cone and the quantity of stronger tobacco gradually diminishes in amount from the end where this tobacco is exposed toward the other end of the cigarette where only mild tobacco is present.

In Figs. 7 to ll inclusive, there is shown a modified form of the cigarette in which a greater quantity of stronger tobacco is used, this tobacco extending through more than half the length of the cigarette. In Figs. l2 to 16 inclusive, the cigarette shown is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7, but a greater amount of stronger tobacco is employed and it is present in a substantially uniform amount along the cigarette, instead of diminishin as is the case in the forms previously ascribed.

Referring to Figure 17, 30 is the cigarette paper or wrapper, spread out in band form, with a spread or layer thereon of mild to- Lacco 32. The dotted lines 311-34 indicate the sectional length of cigarettes and indicate where the paper is to be cut off, either by hand shears or by a rotating cutter, used in all standard forms of automatic ciga-l rette-making machinery. The arrow 35 in dicates the direction of movement of the band of paper carrying the spread or layer of tobacco intended for the manufacture of cigarettes.

The band is shown in Fig. 18 at a later stage in the manufacture of the new cigarettes. 36--36 show wedge-shaped gaps in the milder tobacco 32 where some of it has been removed, showing the cigarette paper exposed to view, and 33 shows a wedgeshapcd mass of stronger tobacco which has been placed in one of the vacant gaps 36 resulting from the removal of a Wedgeshaped mass of the milder tobacco 32.

With further reference to Figure 19 a wedge-shaped mass of stronger tobacco 33 is shown adapted to fit into one of the wedge-shaped recesses 36 in the milder tobacco 32.

With further reference to Figure 20 where a wedge-shaped tobacco-forming or tobacco depositing device is shown, and with further re erence to Figure 21, a like wedge-shaped metal box device isdepicted, with its lower edge 37 shown imbedded in the milder tobacco 32, on the paper cigarette band 30. moving 1n the direction of the arrow This wedge-shaped metal box device 2l has a cover 33 hermetically closing the upper portion thereof, equipped with a pipe 39 leading' into the interior thereof, and by means of which an air pressure or a vacuum may lie-produced at will, facilitating the removal of 'a Wedge-shaped mass of tobacco from the'flayer et' tobacco upon the paper cigarette band 30-01' facilitating the depositing of a wedge-shaped mass of tobacco upon the moving paper band 30 or upon the mild tobacco 32 which it covers.

The paper band 30 caused to move in the direction of the arrow 35 manually or by belt and mechanism, carrying a layer of mild tobacco 32 as depicted 1n Fi ure 21. I then deposit thereon wedgeshape of stronger tobacco at length. intervals, such length intervals being the lengths of standard cigarettes as. indicated by the dotted lines .34*3/1, by feeding tobacco under gentle air pressure down into and through the pipe 39. I may feed a stronger, very fine cut, or even powdered tobacco, into the wedge shaped box shown in Figure 21 directly on to, and between the libres of the mild tobacco 32, without removing any portion of said mild tobacco.

With further reference to Fi ure 22, an end view of the cigarette paper 1s shown at 30, with the milder tobacco at 32 and the stronger tobacco at 33.

Vith further reference to Figure 23 a like end view of the cigarette paper shown at 30 with a stronger tobacco 33 and the milder tobacco 32, shown in the initial stage of being bent upward by drawing through a ring or large end of a forming cone well known to cigarette makers.

With further reference to Figure 24, a like end view of the paper is again shown at 30 with the stronger tobacco at 33 andthe milder tobacco at 32 bent up in the process of forming to a greater extent, and Figures 25, 26 and 2'? also show end views of the cigarette paper 30 bent up in increasing degree over the included tobaccos 33 and 32 and until the cigarette is formed.

With further reference to Figure 28, 40 is a metal cone used in many standard forms of automatic cigarette making machinery, with the paper band 30, advancing in the direction of the arrow 35 and containing the tobaccos 33 and 32. course that the paper hand is supported upon and is driven by a conveyor belt in I practice not shown here for the sake of clearness.

Having described the various parts and combination of parts of my new'cigarette, my method-of producing it is as follows A spread of mild tobacco approximately l inch thick is laid upon the paper, sifted on by machinery or sprinkled on by hand, and at intervals of the length of the standard cigarette, substantially wedge-shaped masses of tobacco are removed by a metal form shown in Figure 21 by aid of a vacuum or (partial vacuum, and stronger tobacco in we ge-shaped masses shown in Figure 19 are successively placed in these gaps, and the cigarette paper is either' drawn manually or by mechanism thrcu h the cone depicted in Figure 28 and paste as it emerges from the small end of the cone 40 and either cut off by hand shears, or by a rotating cutter used in all standard cigarette making machines. I ma also make my new com ound cigarette in te simpler way as alrea( .y described b simply depositing at intervals, some iine y cut, or powdered stronger tcbacco, on to and bet-Ween the fibres of the milder tobacco, in thin wedge-shaped masses near the end adapted to be lighted, or I may deposit iiavor in any form of material or substance on to and between the libres of the milder tobacco 32 at regularly spaced intervals, as it moves along on the paper carrier. I have found it to be a simple and eliicient way to produre economically my compound cigarettes to sprinkle mild tobacco uniformly upon ,the moving band of cigarette paper, and then to plant at regularly spaced intervals, fine cut or powdered tobacco of a stronger kind, to draw the paper rope as it is thus calledbycigarette manufacturers through the forming cone, and after pasting and drying the seam to cut ofll the rope into cigarettes, the rotating knife or shears employed, cutting oli' the aper at positions indicated by the dotted lines 34-34--3LL By carrying out this method either manually or mechanically, I am enabled to produce a cigarette with a longitudinal section as depicted in Figures 1, 2, 7 and 12 and with transversecross sections as shown in Figures? 3 to 16 inclusive.

It is understood of I may unite the seam by pasting or crimping and I may paste upon the band tips of cork or other material, or I-inay in the place yof the cork or other tip, print` the n name or a design upon the paper, upon the end remote from the mixed tobaccos or the tobacco carrying the fiavoring material.

Having described my novel compound rettes comprising placing tobacco upon 'a band of papel', removal of a part of said tobacco 'at regularl spaced intervals, 'deals positing a differentl 'nd of tobacco into the voids resulting from the removal of part of the tobacco, and forming a rope by drawing said .paper and the said tobaccos through a forming device, uniting the seam and severing the rope into cigarettes.

3. The method of forming cigarettes consisting of sprinkling tobacco upon a printed band of paper, the removal of a portion of said tobacco in wedge-shaped masses or substantially wedge-shaped masses, at regularly spaced intervals, the depositing of a tobacco of a different or stronger kind in wedge-shaped or substantially wedge-shape masses into the voids resulting from the removal of a part of the tobacco, and the forming of a cigarette rope by drawing said paper and the said tobaccos through a forming device, the uniting of the seam by pasting or crimping, and the cutting off of the rope into cigarettes. y

4. A cigarette rope comprising a wrapper and a tobacco iiller containing, at regular intervals lengthwise of the wrapper, quan' tities of tobacco of a stronger character than the remainder of the filler.

5. A method of manufacturing cigarettes, which comprises continuously depositing tobacco upon a band of paper, depositing at spaced points lengthwise of the band of paper quantities of tobacco of a different character from that deposited by the continuous action so as to provide a uniform quantity of tobacco, folding the paper to enclose the tobacco deposited therein, uniting the the overlapping edges of the paper toform a seam, and severing the .paper into cigarettes of the desired length.

6. A method of manufacturing cigarettes,

which comprises continuously depositing tobacco upon a moving paper band, depositing upon the paper band separate quantities of tobaccol of va different character vide a uniform quantity of tobacco, the l from that first deposited so as to pro- 'last-named tobacco being placed on the the tobacco inside it into cigarette lengthsc,

hand at regularly spaced intervals, foldn the band to enclose the tobacco deposite thereon, uniting the edges of the paper to form a seam, and severing the paper with the lines of severance occurring at one en of each of the masses of stronger tobacco Within the folded band.

7. The method of manufacturing cigarettes comprising continuously de ositing tobacco upon a band of aper 0 indefinite length, depositing a di erent kind of to- -becco thereon at spaced points lengthwise of the band, and forming the band with the v tobacco therein into the shape of a tube of pa er with tobacco inside it.

igned at New York city, in the county of New York and Stute of New York, this 13th day of March, A. D. 1925. NEVIL MONROE HOPKINS. 

